‘Abusers are still involved in the game’
A LAWYER who is representing former footballers who say they were sexually abused at clubs as young players has claimed there are still individuals in the game who “need further investigation”.
Edward Smethurst, the managing director of Manchester-based firm Prosperity Law, was speaking at the launch of the Offside Trust – an independent body set up by victims of abuse at clubs to “fight for justice” and provide support.
When asked about a former youth coach from a leading club, who remained in the game until recently despite warnings about his behaviour, Smethurst said: “It’s not a surprise.”
Smethurst, whose firm is supporting the Offside Trust on a pro bono basis, said: “There are other individuals within the game, past and present, against whom further action could be taken. There are absolutely people, involved in the game today, who victims have spoken to me about. I can’t comment until further investigation, but they certainly need further investigation.”
Smethurst said ex-players have told him clubs have asked for confidentiality clauses in compensation packages for sexual abuse by coaches in their youth systems.
This follows Chelsea’s apology on Saturday to former player Gary Johnson for asking him to sign a non-disclosure agreement in 2015 in return for £50,000.
That agreement was waived last week, enabling Johnson, now 57, to tell that he was sexually abused by the club’s ex-chief scout Eddie Heath between 1978 and 1981. Heath has since died.
The Offside Trust is the brainchild of former Crewe players Andy Woodward and Steve Walters and ex-Manchester City youth player Chris Unsworth.
Woodward, whose harrowing interview with the Guardian nearly three weeks ago started a wave of allegations that has now swept over the entire game, said he and his partners want justice and to help other victims.
Smethurst and the players believe only a fully independent public inquiry would be able to uncover what was happening in clubs more than 20 years ago, as well as assessing what responsibility the football authorities must shoulder.
Last week, the FA asked Kate Gallafent QC to lead a review of their response to historic allegations of sexual abuse.
Walters said he and Woodward also wanted an apology. “We haven’t been offered any money, not even had an inkling of an apology from the football club we were at, which is, in our opinion, disgusting and upsetting,” he said.
“Fair play to Chelsea – it’s too little, too late – but they have put their apology out there in a sincere manner.
“From Crewe, there has been nothing. Head in the sand. Let us suffer all our lives. There’s so many more. I’m getting calls every day off players who I’ve grown up with.”
Crewe have launched an independent inquiry into what happened in their youth set-up in the Eighties and Nineties. (4-1-3-2) (4-2-3-1) CABALLERO GORDON ZABALETA LUSTIG OTAMENDI SIMUNOVIC ADARABIOYO SVIATCHENKO CLICHY IZAGUIRRE FERNANDO BROWN SANE ARMSTRONG DELPH FORREST NOLITO ROGIC AGUERO ROBERTS IHEANACHO DEMBELE REF: S Vincic (Svn) TV: BT Sport 3 KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
Victims spoke of others